Martha Stewart Living Newsletter

Introduction

Holiday cards make perfect ornaments: dazzling and delicate yet impossible to break. In a few steps, turn cards into darling globes or circles that lock together, ready to twirl. Or, frame a snowy scene in a frosting of sparkles. Hang your new ornaments with card garlands for an enchanting tree.

materials

Hole punch

Glue

Scissors

Glitter

Cards

steps

Make garland by using disks popped out of cards with a circle punch (you can also trace a round object and cut out). They're attached to heavy thread with stickers; to make sure they're secure, rub with a craft stick.

These airy ornaments are a breeze to make. Cut a card into narrow strips; you'll need about eight to 20 pieces, depending on how much space you want between them. Stack strips and punch holes through both ends with a hole punch (if the stack is too thick, do a few strips at a time); insert a paper fastener into each hole. Bend the stack into a C shape (the card's design should be facing out), and wiggle the strips apart so they fan out to form a globe. To hang, take decorative thread and, starting at the middle of the strand, wind it around the paper fastener several times, then knot ends. When the holidays are over, push strips back into a stack to store without crushing (removing one fastener makes it easier).

Two circles fit snugly together to form one ornament. To make, cut two disks identical in size from a card; you can use a circle punch, or trace a round object and cut with scissors. Cut a slit halfway across each disk. In one circle, punch a hole near the edge opposite the cut with a hole punch. Hold the disks so that the slits face each other. Slide the slit of one disk all the way into the other (you should feel the disks "lock"). Thread string through the hole, and tie a knot.

Cut out a circle from a card and punch a hole for string; add glue around the edge and sprinkle with glitter.